In today’s fast-changing and uncertain world, wisdom, happiness, and compassion are no longer just ideals; they’re essential tools for finding balance and connection. Wisdom today isn’t simply about intellect or knowledge; it’s about discernment, the ability to see clearly through the noise and distraction that fill modern life, and to make choices that serve not only ourselves but the greater good.

Happiness, too, carries a meaning now. In a culture that measures worth through productivity and success, true happiness feels almost revolutionary. It exists in calm and sincerity: in the courage to slow down, to live with intention, and to find contentment in connection rather than consumption. And compassion, perhaps the most transformative of all, reminds us of our shared humanity.

Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis’s Wisdom of Happiness is a superb piece of filmmaking. The documentary offers not only a portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama but an intimate conversation with him: a heart-to-heart about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As the camera dwells on his gentle smile and measured voice, the film encourages us to breathe and to reflect on the questions that define us as human beings.

Through cinematography by Manuel Bauer and a wealth of archival footage, the film traces the Dalai Lama’s extraordinary journey. Born as a young boy in Tibet, he was thrust into spiritual and political leadership under extreme circumstances, facing the heavy responsibility of guiding his people while growing up in a nation under increasing pressure from Chinese authorities. His early years were defined by upheaval, leading to his forced escape into exile in 1959, a journey that guided his lifelong focus on peace, nonviolence, and preserving Tibetan culture. Yet, Wisdom of Happiness never drifts into hagiography; it keeps the focus on the essence of his teaching: that peace in the world begins with peace within; that happiness cannot be pursued like a possession, but cultivated through awareness; that compassion, far from being a luxury, is a necessity for survival.

Miller and Delaquis approach their subject with such grace that you want to stay in the cinema, absorbed in every moment. When the film ends, you leave with a smile and tears, feeling a meaningful connection.

Through the Dalai Lama’s words and presence, we’re reminded that the answers to life’s great questions are often found not in external achievement, but in understanding. The inclusion of Tibetan and international collaborators – including executive producer Richard Gere, a lifelong advocate for Tibet and founder of Tibet House USA – gives the film a sense of unity that reflects its message. It becomes an act of cultural preservation as much as it is a cinematic experience, carrying forward the voices of a people whose history has been marked by displacement.

Wisdom of Happiness is less a documentary and more a mirror, reflecting back our longing for meaning in a restless age. The film motivates us to look inward and rediscover the gentle strength of compassion. There’s something hopeful in that, a belief that even in a fractured world, kindness remains our most powerful form of wisdom. A film of rare beauty and calmness, Wisdom of Happiness leaves you lighter and perhaps a little closer to peace.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}